For almost the entire offseason, Denver Nuggets fans have been concerned about the lack of depth at point guard. Or rather, they've been concerned about the fact that ball-control specialist Tyus Jones is the backup point guard. The Nuggets may still be concerned as well if what an NBA insider said is right about the team's inquiry into the freshly waived former Milwaukee Buck, Kevin Porter Jr.
On his latest briefing about NBA news and rumors, Jake Fischer said that "Kevin Porter Jr. had interest from Denver before he was waived." Two things stand out about that statement. The interest itself, signaling the possible upgrader over Jones. And the word "before," which signals to me that the Nuggets probably won't pursue KPJ without having another deal lined up to clear salary.
Porter would be a massive offensive upgrade over Jones
It would be great to see KPJ in a Nuggets uniform. While Jones has looked good as a floor general in the preseason, averaging 5.6 assists in 14.6 minutes and protecting the ball with only 1 turnover per game, he doesn't offer any other upside. Jones averaged just 2.2 points on 38.5% shooting.
Porter, on the other hand, has explosive upside potential in comparison. He averaged 17.4 points and 7.4 assists in 33.2 minutes over 38 games and 36 stats for the Bucks in 2025-26. Sure, he turned the ball over 2.9 times, but that can happen as the primary facilitator who's always got the ball in his hands.
Clearly, the Nuggets at least entertained the thought of upgrading with Porter over Jones, but I don't know that it's likely to happen based on that "before" word.
The Nuggets would add to their second-apron woes
The Nuggets are still the only team over the NBA's second-apron luxury tax threshold, by $3.15 million. Adding Porter as a free agent now that he has cleared waivers would put them $5.6 million over the threshold and add about $16.5 million in tax penalties, assuming they agreed to a veteran minimum deal with the 26-year-old former first-round pick.
That's a lot of money for the additional player, and it's why the Nuggets are likely to keep their 15th roster spot open until later in the season. And it makes sense on the "before."
Before Porter was waived, the Nuggets could have potentially made a trade to acquire Porter to keep their salary down, closer to the second apron line. Now, if they signed Porter, they'd potentially have a much more difficult task of getting back under the apron threshold by season's end without another deal lined up to clear salary.
But you never know. Perhaps the Nuggets roll the dice? But it still seems like they're searching for more at backup point guard.
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